Since the release of the immigration strategic plan in December 2023, the Australian government has continued to promote a series of policy reforms, involving skilled immigrants, work visas, entrepreneur visas and other aspects. This article will deeply analyze these important immigration policy updates.

From July 1st, 2024, Australia's income requirements for temporary skilled migrants (tsmit) will be significantly increased. The new annual income standard is $73150, which means that the annual salary and market salary data of the nominees of all temporary skilled immigration applications submitted after July 1, 2024 must meet this threshold. If the position requires labor market testing, the salary in the recruitment advertisement shall not be lower than this standard.

The purpose of this change is to ensure that Australia's immigration market can attract high-quality skilled talents, while ensuring the demand of the local labor market. This is an important adjustment for applicants who plan to work in Australia through the temporary skilled immigration visa, especially for those enterprises and jobs whose income does not meet the standard.

2、 482 reduced requirements for visa work experience

The current 482 temporary skills shortage visa requires applicants to have at least two years of relevant work experience before applying. However, from November 23, 2024, this requirement will be reduced to one year. This adjustment will greatly expand the scope of application of 482 visa, especially for those applicants who hold Australian graduate visa, it will be easier to convert to work visa.

This policy change will bring greater opportunities for overseas graduates and enable more potential technical talents to enter the Australian job market faster, providing them with more choices and flexibility.

3、 The new work permit will replace the current 482 visa

The Australian government plans to introduce a new type of Visa - "skill demand visa", which will replace the current 482 visa in the future. The draft legislation on the new visa was submitted to Parliament for consideration in 2024. If the bill is passed, the new skills demand visa will include different income thresholds: the income threshold for the "professional skills path" is set at $135000, while the income threshold for the "core skills path" is set at $73150.

In addition, the validity period of the labor market test will be extended from the current four months to six months. The core purpose of the policy is to better attract high-level skilled talents for Australia, while ensuring fair competition in the labor market.

4、 Extension of visa holders' stay

In order to enhance the mobility of the labor market and protect migrant workers from exploitation, the Australian government will adjust the length of stay of 482 visa holders. From July 1st, 2024, 482 visa holders will be able to stay in Australia for up to 180 days after ending their employment relationship with the guaranteed employer, compared with 60 days previously. This means that after unemployment, visa holders have more time to find new job opportunities or convert to other types of visas.

In addition, the government has introduced a number of new protective measures to help migrant workers avoid exploitation. For example, the "workplace justice visa pilot" has been launched, which allows migrant workers who are exploited by employers to stay in Australia for 6 to 12 months, so that they have more time to deal with relevant issues and seek legal aid.

5、 Raising the threshold of health standards

All types of visa applicants, including 482 visa, need to meet Australian health standards. From July 1st, 2024, the significant cost threshold will be raised from $51000 to $86000. This change means that for those applicants with health problems, when the treatment cost is expected to exceed this threshold, they will no longer meet the health requirements.

The adjustment of this policy will reduce the risk that applicants will be refused a visa due to health problems, especially for some applicants who may have health conditions but whose treatment costs are not high, which is a positive change.

The update of Australia's immigration policy in 2025 focuses on raising the quality threshold of skilled immigrants, enhancing the protection of migrant workers' rights and interests, and providing more opportunities for skilled talents who are interested in developing in Australia. These changes mean that people applying for visas to Australia will face stricter requirements in the future, but they will also be able to enjoy more benefits. For interested entrepreneurs and immigrants, understanding the trends of these new policies will help them find their own opportunities in the fierce immigration market and successfully achieve their immigration goals.